Review of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the Aftermath of COVID-19

Abstract

In 2014, the World Health Organization developed the End Tuberculosis Strategy with the goal of a 95% reduction in deaths from tuberculosis (TB) by 2035. The start of the COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdown has had a major impact on TB awareness, screening, diagnosis, and prompt initiation of treatment, inevitably leading to a significant setback. We explore pediatric tuberculosis through the lens of the COVID-19 era, investigating how COVID-19 has impacted pediatric TB cases in different regions of the world and what the implications are for management moving forward to mitigate these effects. Furthermore, in light of recent findings showing how exposed infants and children are at higher risk than we thought of contracting the disease, greater attention and resources are needed to prevent further downward trends.

Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Children: A Forgotten Disease?

“…TB is still a dangerous disease in childhood, as children represent the population at greatest risk of morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how the decrease in access to health facilities has led to a significant delay in diagnosis and treatment, contributing to an increase in deaths and new cases in the following years [ 120 ]. For what concerns the diagnosis in children, it is not always simple, especially in the first years of life, even if the introduction of new diagnostic techniques has allowed a more rapid identification of the infection.…”